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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-8-25 WHAC Minutes - FINALWHAC meeting 01/08/2025 New Hanover County – City of Wilmington Workforce Housing Advisory Committee  January 8, 2025, Regular meeting  Committee Members Present: Chair Tom Gale, Vice Chair Paul Stavovy, Chad Hill, Jody Wainio, Roger Gins, Sharm Brantley NHC Staff Present: Jessica Loeper, Katia Boykin, Kourtney Wilson, Lisa Maes, Marshall Fugate, Rebekah Roth, Theo McClammy City of Wilmington Staff Present: Rachel Schuler, Travis Henley Call to order The meeting was called to order at 3:00 PM by Chair Tom Gale. A quorum wasn’t established; however, the meeting was still held for the presentation of information and discussion Approval Agenda • No quorum was established so there was no vote. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes • No quorum was established so there was no vote. Public Comments • There were no public comments recorded during this meeting. New Business In order to allow time for additional members of the committee to arrive prior to the Housing Needs Assessment Presentation, Chair Gale requested that NHC Director of Planning & Land Use Rebekah Roth provide the 2025 Annual Workplan presentation shown later on the agenda. Also, to keep all of the different New Business Items straight, please add the title of each component and underline it (2025 Annual Workplan). Rebekah Roth emphasized the importance of quarterly formal reports by staff to keep committee members informed about ongoing work. The timeline was deflned for the annual report and presentation, typically scheduled for January, though this year, it will occur later. The need to start early conversations about the annual report was highlighted, allowing outgoing committee members to contribute their insights on priorities and the committee’s future direction. A month-to-month breakdown of activities was provided, including the June debrief with rotating members, the start of work on the annual report in September, and flnalization of recommendations in November. Adjustments to the Annual Work Plan 2025 • Adjustments to the plan included moving the presentations to elected boards to February, with a vote on the report in January and a debrief scheduled in February. As no committee members are rotating off this year, the annual work plan was updated to refiect the absence of a member debrief while maintaining fiexibility for any future changes. Committee Member Terms and Appointments • The staggered terms of committee members were discussed, noting that approximately half will end in 2026 and the remainder in 2027. Participants considered fllling unexpired terms to ensure a balanced rotation and suggested identifying and encouraging potential applicants to apply for future vacancies. Members were asked to begin reviewing candidate applications. City and County Reporting Dates • Rachel Schuler mentioned important reporting dates, including the city's annual action plan in April and the consolidated annual report in August or September. It was recommended that these dates be added to the committee’s calendar to maintain alignment with local reporting requirements. Education and Application Process for Funding • Committee Members discussed advancing the timeline for the $3 million funding application process to provide more time for applicants and the committee. They proposed holding the workshop for educating applicants in May to allow sufficient time for application submissions and reviews before the Commissioners’ flnal decision. Concerns were raised about current time constraints, and it was agreed that earlier workshops and reviews would alleviate these challenges. Housing Needs Assessment Presentation A presentation on the initial flndings of the Housing Needs Assessment was provided by Mollie Fitzpatrick and Carly Bouts of Root Policy Research. Preliminary flndings highlighted trends such as a 50% increase in median incomes (2018–2023), rising home ownership rates due to higher incomes and low interest rates, and affordability challenges linked to recent interest rate increases. The analysis revealed signiflcant gaps in affordability: • Rental Gaps: A shortage of approximately 7,400 affordable units below 50% AMI, especially in Wilmington. • Buyer Gaps: Challenges for flrst-time buyers below 120% AMI and up to 150% AMI. • Market Mismatch: The market is failing to provide sufficient rental units for households earning below 80% AMI Affordability Gaps Analysis • The affordability gaps analysis emphasized the need for affordable units and revealed a mismatch between income levels and available housing. The flndings underscored the necessity for strategies to address rental shortages and assist flrst- time buyers. Next Steps for the Housing Needs Assessment • The next steps for the housing needs assessment include forecasting future needs and aligning current strategies with anticipated growth. Recommendations will be reflned based on the data. Annual Report and Recommendations • The committee discussed flnalizing the annual report to ensure it accurately refiects the committee’s work and priorities. Recommendations will include outcomes from the housing needs assessment and developer roundtable discussions. Meeting Adjourned The meeting adjourned at 5:00pm